The Birthmark by Beth Montgomery Page B

branch above him. He wanted to say how grateful he was for his narrow escape but the power of the bird’s green stare made Tepu’s voice catch in his throat. He hoped none of the black noddies had been killed in the shooting.
    â€˜They sacrificed themselves to help me. How can I thank you?’ he whispered.
    The black tern ruffled its feathers and whistled in response. Then it turned its head in the direction of the leper colony, made a chattering sound and flew away.
    Tepu heard a booming noise from down on the beach. He saw an orange glow in the direction the bird had just flown. Anbwido Leper Colony was ablaze.

    Baringa Bay
Monday 28 June 2004
    â€˜This is Baringa Channel,’ Decima announced, pointing down the hill. ‘The channels are the only way to get boats in and out. They blasted them through the reef years ago. They’re the safest places to swim because there are no rocks, but you have to watch the undertow.’
    As they neared the beach Christina saw a broad section of crystal blue water cutting through the reef. About a third of the way along, as it deepened, the water darkened. She gazed out to sea. Towering white clouds, which must have been tens of kilometres thick, plunged like giant cliffs into the horizon.
    Christina couldn’t wait to plunge into that crystal blue herself. The sun was fierce. They’d come from Hector’s hut along the Witch Track and even though it was only a ten minute walk, sweat drenched her T-shirt and trickled down the back of her neck.
    At the top of the channel was a concrete ramp. Christina spread out her towel. ‘You can share mine if you like,’ she offered.
    â€˜Don’t need one,’ Decima said. ‘In a few minutes I’ll be dry again.’
    The two girls walked down the ramp to meet the water. Christina was surprised how warm it was, like a heated pool. She waded in up to her waist before duck-diving under. Instantly she felt cooler and wondered if it would drain some of the colour from her face. Hector had commented how red her face got just by walking. It didn’t normally do that. Perhaps it was the humidity. Secretly she envied her new friends’ colour. It would be nice to be so brown and not change from white to red so dramatically. She resembled a red-heeler, all freckles and strawberry-blonde hair.
    â€˜Lily and I were down here yesterday for her father’s barbecue,’ Decima said, ‘except a bit further along.’ She pointed to the right where dozens of coral pinnacles stood in the sand and the jungle spilt onto the shore. ‘The leper colony used to be in there.’
    Christina was horrified. ‘And you go there for barbecues?’
    â€˜Yeah.’
    â€˜Aren’t you scared?’
    Decima looked puzzled. ‘What of?’
    â€˜Catching leprosy.’
    â€˜Don’t be silly! No one on the island has had leprosy since…since I don’t know when. You can’t catch it from the grass or anything.’ She lay back in the water and let herself float in the swell.
    Christina was silent. Wasn’t leprosy that disease where body parts rotted away and fell off, bits like noses and fingers and toes? She’d have to quiz her father about it when she got home. ‘I don’t know anything about leprosy, except I think they can cure it now,’ she said.
    â€˜See, no problem then,’ Decima said smiling. ‘Not like what my mum’s got. She’s really sick.’
    â€˜What’s wrong with her?’
    â€˜She’s got diabetes. She gets her blood cleaned out every few days…her kidneys don’t work.’
    Christina didn’t know what to say. ‘Will she get better?’
    Decima shrugged.
    There was another silence as they both drifted in the gentle waves. Finally Decima said: ‘Do you have a boyfriend?’
    Christina considered lying to impress her but decided not to. Decima didn’t need to be impressed. She